The Courage to Build Across Borders: Together Mission 6.0 Ignites Young Founders Worldwide 🏆
The spirit of entrepreneurship knows no borders — and Together Mission 6.0 proved exactly that.
Held on October 27, 2025, the Together Mission Championship Finals connected the innovation ecosystems of India and Canada in an extraordinary cross-cultural celebration of ideas, courage, and collaboration.
Co-hosted by Chris Carder, Executive Director of Schulich Startups (Schulich School of Business, York University), and Tanishq Malik of Startup India, the event showcased the strength of global partnerships in nurturing the next generation of impact-driven founders.
Among the distinguished guests were Dr. Rhonda Lenton, President of York University, and the Canadian Commissioner to India, who both underscored how initiatives like Together Mission foster not only entrepreneurial growth — but also deeper business and cultural ties between the two nations.
🏁 The Finals: Innovation on Stage
The three finalist teams — MEINE Electric, Future Farming, and Trace Xero — took the spotlight with groundbreaking solutions in sustainable mobility, agriculture, and environmental technology. Their pitches were evaluated by a panel of distinguished judges: Upasana Sharma (TiE Toronto), Ankur Jain (Antler Canada), and Naman Budhdeo (Sunstone).
Between rounds, Thomas A. Bata delivered a keynote on courage, failure, and the human side of entrepreneurship, reminding young innovators that true leadership comes from resilience. His words resonated deeply with the audience and were echoed by Rishabh Gupta and Howard Lichtman, who emphasized mentorship and perseverance as essential ingredients for long-term success.
The Winners
🥇 MEINE Electric — Winner of the 1st Thomas Bata Future Vision Award (CAD 10,000) for their breakthrough in sustainable mobility 🥈 Future Farming — Runner-up (CAD 5,000) 🥉 Trace Xero — Third place (CAD 1,000)
💬 A Celebration of Courage and Collaboration
More than a competition, Together Mission 6.0 was a celebration of courage, creativity, and connection — showing how student founders can drive meaningful impact when given the opportunity to collaborate across borders.
Supported by Friends of Bata, the initiative continues to empower young innovators to build ventures that are not only successful, but sustainable — combining academic excellence, entrepreneurial ambition, and social purpose.
As Thomas A. Bata shared:
“Entrepreneurship isn’t about avoiding failure — it’s about using it as fuel to build something that matters.”
🌍 Together, the next generation of founders is already shaping a more connected, courageous, and purpose-driven future.
Embarking on the path of entrepreneurship can be daunting, fraught with obstacles and uncertainties.
However, the journey of Adrian Escabias, as detailed in our latest Friends of Bata case study, offers invaluable insights and practical lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here's why young entrepreneurs should delve into Adrian's story of ups and downs, and the strategies employed to successfully launch Aticco Ventures:
Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Adrian's transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship showcases the importance of resilience. He faced significant setbacks, including the collapse of his startup Subbo and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Escamu. His ability to bounce back and continue innovating is a powerful lesson for any entrepreneur.
Learning from failure: The case study highlights how Adrian turned failures into learning opportunities. For example, the legal issues and partner conflicts he faced in Subbo underscore the necessity of solid legal agreements and the importance of having experienced advisors.
Importance of Intellectual Property: Protecting intellectual property is crucial, as illustrated by the challenges Adrian faced with his CTO at Subbo. Ensuring proper legal safeguards can prevent devastating losses and help maintain the integrity of your business.
Securing Funding: Adrian's experiences reveal the complexities of startup funding. From relying on personal finances and bank loans to establishing community-based pledge funds, his journey underscores the need for creative and strategic approaches to secure capital.
Building a Supportive Community: Aticco Ventures is a testament to the power of community-driven innovation. By fostering a network of experienced entrepreneurs and investors, Adrian has created an environment where startups can thrive through mentorship, collaboration, and shared resources.
Networking and Relationship Building: The value of strong professional networks is a recurring theme in Adrian's story. Regular networking events and workshops at Aticco Ventures help entrepreneurs build essential connections that can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, Adrian Escabias's journey provides a realistic and inspiring look at the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. It offers practical lessons on resilience, the importance of solid legal foundations, creative funding solutions, and the power of community. By learning from Adrian's experiences, entrepreneurs can better navigate their own paths and avoid common pitfalls.
Click here to download the case study and find our all details about his challenges and journey!
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